David Knoke blends network theories from a range of disciplines and empirical studies of domestic and international economies to illuminate how economic activity is embedded in and constrained by social ties among economic actors. Social capital, in the form of connections to others holding valuable resources, is vital for finding a job, buying a car, creating a new industry, or triggering a global financial crisis. In nontechnical terms the author explicates the core network concepts, measures, and analysis methods behind these phenomena. The book also includes many striking network diagrams to provide visual insights into complex structural patterns.

This accessible book offers an invaluable critique for both undergraduate and graduate students in economic sociology and social network analysis courses who seek a better understanding of the multifaceted economic webs in which we are all entangled.

"Knoke very aptly illustrates the importance of networks in the
economy and thus helps to make concrete contributions to economic
sociology… The book is an excellent introduction … and
would work well as a supplement for an introductory course in
economic sociology and sociology of networks."Lectures

"Scholarship on the role of social networks in economic exchange
has been growing at a fast clip, suffusing through several regions
of sociology and even into economics itself. David Knoke performs a
signal service in ordering and integrating diverse streams of
research – at every level from individual economic choices to
the structure of the global economy – in this comprehensive,
sagacious, and highly readable volume."Paul DiMaggio, Princeton University

"David Knoke brings his years of experience analyzing political
networks to a broad review of network mechanisms in economic
sociology. This is a useful text for anyone interested in a quick,
literate, and insightful overview of the burgeoning research on the
ways social networks shape economic phenomena."Ronald Burt, University of Chicago Booth School of
Business

"Having shown the power of the structural approach in both
political (1990) and organizational (2001) settings, Dr. Knoke now
turns his clear eye to the structural foundations of our economic
system. Skillfully bridging levels of analysis from the
embeddedness of employees to connectivity in the global system,
this book provides a wonderful overview of how economic
understanding requires networks. This clear and careful book will
be an asset to scholars across the social sciences."James Moody, Duke University

Instructors

Permissions

To apply for permission please send your request to permissions@wiley.com with
specific details of your requirements. This should include, the Wiley title(s), and the specific portion of the content you wish to re-use
(e.g figure, table, text extract, chapter, page numbers etc), the way in which you wish to re-use it, the circulation/print run/number of people
who will have access to the content and whether this is for commercial or academic purposes. If this is a republication request please include details
of the new work in which the Wiley content will appear.